Crankshaft for a reciprocating piston engine

Abstract

A crankshaft for a reciprocating piston engine is disclosed. The crankshaft has at least two shaft journals adjoined by respective crank webs which are connected to one another by an associated crank pin. Respective material accumulations, which in each case have a surface oriented at least substantially orthogonally with respect to the axis of rotation, are provided on the crank webs in the region of the axis of rotation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A crankshaft for a reciprocating piston engine, comprising:
 at least two shaft journals adjoined by respective crank webs which are connected to one another by a crank pin, wherein each of the at least two shaft journals has a through bore disposed concentrically with respect to an axis of rotation; 
 wherein respective material accumulations are positioned on and protruding from the crank webs in a region of the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, wherein the material accumulations each have a surface facing outwardly from the adjoined shaft journal oriented orthogonally with respect to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, wherein the surfaces are disposed substantially axially in alignment with one another corresponding to an extent of the axis of rotation, and wherein the through bore extends through the surfaces along the axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       2. The crankshaft according to  claim 1 , wherein the material accumulations are plateau-shaped. 
     
     
       3. The crankshaft according to  claim 1 , wherein the material accumulations are disposed on a side of the respective crank web that faces away from the adjoined shaft journal.